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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1907)
I SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 1007. THE MORNING ASTOMAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. THE CONQUEST sf CANAAN By BOOTH TARKINGTON, Author of "Cherry," "Mumltur nraurair," Lie. COPYIUCIIT. IOOS. BY IIAKPUK l BRUT II CHt jj (('Impler 1 CDlltl'lUl'll "Tou evor lifHr that loy Joo tnlk jml ItletT" RNkml Undo Joo Davi'jr, crow log coiikIi with it cuuckkt. "HI bead's to full of litim fur running tiila town, aud eluto, too, If a wonder It don't biut. Henry Iowlt'ii (old ma bfli a Joe act around and study by the hour bow to ear I.0OO,000 for the tato In two ycara," "Aud tho beat ho eau do for himself," added Eskew, "la daltvfrin' Ui Dally Tocsin on a secoud band 8tnr blcycl and ganiblln' with niggers and riffraff! None of the nice young folks Invito htm to ttiolr doln'a any more." . "Tbat'a Ixx-auM be'a got ao ahabby he's quit guln' with 'em," aald Ducka- Uw. "No. It ain't." anitptwd Mr. Arp. "It's because he'a ao low down. Ile'a no Bore 'n a town outcast. Tfonre ain't ry one of die girls 'II bare a thing to Ao with him. wept tbnt rip rnrln tom boy next door to Loudon', and tho oth era don't have much to do with bor neither. I can tell ye. That Arte Tabor"- Colonel riltcruft caught him surrey tlilouttly by the arm. "Kb, Khkew!' ho whlu4rd. "I,ook out what yon'r aayln'." ( mold, Mood M (i hi ii ml lit Hide of till! front wulli, llielr bucks lowmd It nnd other, their ImmIIcn In ir OJatf ie ulree't, their neck bent, how ever, so Unit they jjiized upon tho puss rby, yet gnued without emotion, Two Inrge rnlm dogs gimrded the top of tlio atpjw lending to the front door. They also wore twins and of tho emtio In teresting metal, though honored be yond the deer by eonts of blnok ptilnt aud sliellac. It was to be remnrked that these dogs were of wo dlstlngulnh able sporlea or brewl, yet they were unmistakably dogs. Tho dullest iniwt have rccognlieed them as sue!" nt a glance, which whs perbnps enough. It was a hideous house, Imiiortant look ing, cold, yet bBrshly aggressive, nnd It sat In the middle of Its flat acre of anowy Ihwn like a rich, fat man en raged and sitting straight up In bed to a wear. ' And yet there was one charming tblug alKJttt this ugly bouse. H-tnio workmen were Inclosing a law side porch with heavy ninvu. evidently for fonts purpose- Looking out from be tw'?m two strips of the ennvns win the rof and delicate face of a pretty girl, smiling iiton Ktigetie Hantry in he psed. It was an obviously pret ty fae, all the youth end prettlne "You needn't mind me." Jonas Tabor 1 there for ymir very first glance, eltib lMke up crisply. "I washed my bands ef all responsibility for Ilogur'a branch of the fatuity long ago. Never was one ef 'em had the energy or bralna to Blake a decent llvtn', beginning with Roger-not one worth his salt. I set lager's son up In business, and all the return he ever made me was to go Into bankruptcy and take to drink, till be died a aot, like his wife did of shame. I done all I could when I handed htm over my store, and I never expect to lift a finger for 'em again. Ariel Tabor's my grandnlece, but she didn't act tike It, and you can ssy any thing you like about her for what ! are. The last time I sjioke to her waa I year and a half ago, and I don't reckon I'll ever trouble to again." ilow waa that, JonaaT' quickly In quired Mr. Davey, who, being the eldest of the party, waa the most cu rious. "What happened r 8ho was out In the street, up on that high bicycle of Joe Iiuden's. lie was teacbln' her to ride, an' she was alttlu' on It like a man does. I slopped and told her she wasn't respectable. Sixteen, years old, gltt' on seventeen!" ! "What did she sayT "Laughed!" said Jonas, bis voice be coming louder as the recital of bis wrongs renewed ttiolr sting In bis soul. "Laughed!" "What did you dor "I went up to her und told her she wasn't a decent girl and shook the Wheel." Mr, Talmr Illustrated by seiz ing the Inpels of Joe Imvey and slink ing him. "I told her If her grandfather bad any spunk she'd git nn old fiiKli lotted hldln' for ttchavtn' that way. And I shook the wheel again." Here Mr. Tabor, forgetting In the wrath in cited by the recollect lorr that he had not to do with nn Inanimate object, swung the gasping nnd helpless Mr. Pavey rapidly back and forth In bis rlmlr. "1 shook It good nnd hard!" "Mint did elm d; then?" asked IVter ftradbury. "Fell off on me," replied Jonas vio lently. "On purpose!" "I'wlsht she'd killed ye," said Mr. Davey In a choking voice ns, released, he sank back In his chnlr. "On purpose!" repented Jonas. "And smashed a straw hat I hadn't bad three months! All to pieces! So It couldn't be Axed!" "And what then?" pursued Hrad bury. "She ran," replied Jonas bltterly "ron! And Joe Lomlen-Joo Louden" lie paused and gulped. "What did he do?" Teter leaned for ward In his chair eagerly. The narrator of the outrage gulped again nnd opened and shut bla mouth before responding. "lie aald If I didn't pay for n broken spoke on hla wlwct he'd have to sue me!" orntely pretty, like the splendid pro fusion of hair about nnd above It, am ber colored btlr, upon which so much time bad been spent that a circle of lorge, round curls rose above the muss of It like golden bobbles tipping coronet. Tho girl's fingers were pressed thoughtfully against her chin us Eu gene strode Into view. Immediately her eyes widened and brightened, lie swung along the fence with the hand souiost appearance of unconsciousness until he reached a point nearly op(K site her. Then be turned his head aa If haphazardly 'and met her eyes. At once she threw out her band toward him, waving him a greeting, a gesture which as her lingers bad been uenr her lips was a little like throwing a kiss, Ho crooked ru dhow and wlt!i a one, two, three m'tliiiry movement removed )i! small brimmed bat, er tending tt to full arm's length at the shoulder level, returned it to bis head with life guard precision. This was also new to Cnnann. He was letting Mitnile l'lke have it nil tit once. The Impression was as large as he could have desired. She remained at the opening in the canvas and watch ed him uut'l he wngged his shoulders round the next corner and disappeared Into a cross street. As for Kngene, ho was calm with a great calm and very red. He had not covered a great distance, however, before his gravity wus re placed by his former smiling look of the landed gentleman n mused by the Innocent pastimes of the peasants, though there was uo one In sight ex- M CHAPTER IL AIN jtreet, already muffled by the snow, added to Its quie tude a frozen hush where t tho wonder bearing youth pursued hla course along Its "white, fmiirhr. wnv. Nona was there In Whom Impertinence overmastered as tonishment or who recovered from tho sight In time to Joer with effect. No "Trab's boy" gathered courage to en act In tho 1 thoroughfare a scene of mockery and of Joy, And now thnt expression ho wore the Indulgent amusement of a man of the world-began to disintegrate and ahow signs of change. It became fine ly grave, as of a high conventionality, lofty, assured and mannered, as'he ap proached the Tike "mansion." z It was a big, smooth stone faced nmAntnttha HOi'PlltlCS.frOWnlng UVUDU. UlUUltv.v. . " ' under an outrageously Insistent man sard, capped by a cupola nnd Btaring out of long windows overWpped with ornamental slabs. Two cast Iron deer, painted death gray, twins of the same .H-pt n woman sweeping some snow from the front step of n cottage, and he, riot perceiving him, retired In doors without knowing her loss, lie had couio to a thinly built part of the town, the jierfcet quiet of which made the sound he heard as be opened the picket gate of his own homo all the more startling. It was a scream, loud, frantic and terror stricken. Eugeuo stopped, with the gato half open. , Out of the whiter skeleton of a grape arbor at one side of tho four tquuro brick bouse a brown faced girl of sev enteen precipitated herself through the air In the midst of a shower of torn cardboard which she threw before her as she lea iC She lit npou her toes and bemb'.l t? the gate at top speed, pursued by a ,alo young mon whose thin arms sttovo spasmodically to reach her. Sniftering snow behind them, hair flyH(. the pair sped on like two tattered snebPB before a high wind, for, ns tbr came nearer Eugene, of whom, In tto .Yuslty of their flight, they took no not It was to be seen that both were jDnublly dressed as to be almost rugim Tho girl ran boautfltolly, but a fleeter foot was behind lor od, though she dodged and evaded Uo a creature of the woods, the reaching hand fell upon the loose sleeve of foe red blouse, nor fell lightly. She gavo ft wench of freu zr. The Antique fatanc refused the strain, parted at tun sMoulder seam so thoroughly that the wlsdo sleeve camo away, but not to Jta iwncr's release, for she bad been b'roi'f oft round by tho Jerk, so that, agllo a (mo bad shown herself, the pursuer threw an arm about her neck bfIon. sbo could" twist away and held hew There was ft sbar struggle as short as It was fierce. .NaStoerof these extra ordinary wrestlers svoko. They fought. Victory hung In tiw balance for per haps four secondt1. Then the girl was thrown heavily upon, ner back in such a turmoil of snow tiiat sho seemed to be tho mere nuclei of n white comet, Sho struggled to i"ox up, plying knee and elbow with n very anguish of do. termination, but her opponent held her, pinioned both her wrists with ouo band aud with the oilier rawed great liauU' fuls of thww Into It" 'tee, sparing nal thor mouth nor eyr "You will!" he cttort, "You will tear up my pictures! A My trick, and you get washed for It P ilnlf sttlTicaliH, jokbtg, gasping, sho still fought on, squirming, and l.!i i;ig wh iu.'U spirit mat tuo pair of them appeared to tho beholder like figures of mist writhing In n fountain of snow. More violence was to mar the peace of morning. UnexiKfclodly attacked from tlio rear, tho conqueror was sol ed by tho napg of the neck and one wrist and Jerkid to his feet, shnul taneoiaiy receiving a succession kicks from his nssnlhiut. l'roiuf.ed by nn entirely nutmal curiosity, lr es sayed to turn his bead to mr who this might be, but n t wist of his fore arm and tho pressure of strong lingers under bis ear constrained him to re main us ha was, therefore, abandoning resistance and, tiddly enough, accept ing without comment tho Indication that bis captor desired to remain for tho moment Incognito, bo resorted calmly to explanations. '.'Hho tore up a picture of mine," be aid, receiving the punishment with out apparent emotion. "Hlie seemed to think looaus she'd drawn It herself she bad a right to." There was u slight whimsical droop at the corner of his mouth as be spoke, which inlaid have leen thought characteristic of him. He was an odd looking boy, not HI made, though wry thin und not tall. Ills pallor wait clear und even, as though constitution al; the features were delicate, almost childlike, but they were very slightly distort through nervous habit, to an expression at once wistful uud hu morous; one eyebrow was a shade higher than the other, one side of the mouth slightly drawn down; the eye lids twitched a little, habitually; the fine, blue eyes themselves were almost comically rcproachfuMne look of puppy who thinks you would not hare beaten him If y-,i hnd known what was In his heart. All of this was in the quality of his voice, too, as he aald to his Invisible, captor, with an air of detachment from any personal feeling: "What peculiar shoes you wear! I don't think I ever felt any so pointed before." The rescuing knight took no thought of offering to help the persecuted damsel to arise; Instead he tightened bis grip Umii the prisoner's neck tin til, perforce, water-not tears-started from the latter's eyes. "You miserable little muff!" said tho conqueror. "Whnt the devil do you mean making tbl scene on our front lawnr "Why, It's Eugene!" exclaimed tho helpless one. "They didn't expect you till tonight. When did you get In?' "Just In time to give you a lesson, my buck," replied Hantry grimly. "In good time for tl;:it, my playful step brother." Ho began to twist the other's wrist, a treatment of Imne and ligament In the application of which schoolboys and even freshmen are often adept. Eugene mode the torture acute and was apparently enjoying tho work whet, suddenly, without any manner of warning, be received an astounding blow upon the left ear, which half stunned hint for t'le moment and sent his hat flying and himself reeling, so gtvut was the surprise and shock of It. It was not a slap, uot an open handed push-nothing like It -but a flejee, well delivered blow from a clinched fist with the shoulder behind It, and It was the girl who had given It. Don't you dare to touch Joe!" she cried passionately. "Don't you lay a finger on blni!" Furious and red, ho staggered round to look at her. "You wretched little wildcat, what do you mean by thnt?" he broke out. "Don't you touch Joe!" she panted. "Don't you" Her breath caught aud there was a break in her voice as she faced him. She could not flu'h the repetition of tint cry, "Don't you touch Joe!" Rut there was no break In the spirit, that passion of protection which had denlt tho blow. Roth boys looked at bor, somewhnt aghast Eugene recovered himself. He swung round uKu his heel, restored his hat to his head with precision, picked up his tick and touched his banjo case with It. "Carry that Into the house," he said Indifferently to his stepbrother. , "Don't you do It!" said the girl hotly between her chattering teeth. Eugene turned toward her, wearing the sharp edge of a smile. Not re moving his eyes from ber face, be pro duced with deliberation a flat silver box from a pocket, took therefrom a cigarette, replaced the box, extracted a smaller silver box from another pock et, shook out of It a fusee, slowly lit the clgarette-thls In a splendid si lence, which he finally broke to say languidly, but with particular distinct ness: "Ariel Tabor, go home!" The girl's teeth stopped chattering-, her lips remaining parted; she shook the hair out of her eyes and staved t him us If she did not und-'cstaud, but Joo Louden, wlu had '. Uvu ip tl".-.' banjo .case obediently, 1 i.f.;t Ust cheerful laugh tc: "That's It, tlene." be v:: r:yl.v. Thnt's the way to tnlk to her!" "Stow It, you yo'uujj r" i:'.!'.' I Eugene, not turning t hli:t, "D ) yr.t think I'm trying to be nnur.hgr "I don't know ' whst yr ' ratv.n !' stow It,'" Joe bej;nu, "but 11"' . "I mean," interrupted the other, nc ! relaxing his faintly smiling stare et the girl "I mean that Ariel Tabor I ; to go home. Really we can't huve this kind of thing occurring upon our front lawn!" The flush upon her wet cheeks deep ened and Iwnnie dark. Even her arm grew redder as sho gaged back at him. In his eyes was patent bla complete reuIlKittion of tho figure she cut, of this btiro nrtti, of tlm strewn hnlr, of the fallen stocking, of the ragged shoulder of her blouse, of her patched short skirt, of the whole dlahevoled little fig- ore. He was the master of the house. nd he wns sending her home as til be haved children are sent home by neighbors. Tho Immobile, amused superiority of this proprietor of silver boxes, this wearer of strange and brilliant gar ments, became slightly Intensified as be pointed to the fallen sleeve, si rag of red and snow, lying near her feet Yon might take that with you?" be said interrogatively. Her gn.e had not wavered In meet ing bis, but at this ber eyelashes be gan to wink uncontrollably, ber chin to tremble. Hho bent over the sleeve i tid picked It up before Joe Louden, who had started toward her, could do It for her. Then turning, her bead still bent so that ber face was hidden from both of them, she ran out of the gate. Ariel run alonir the fence until she came to the next gate, which opened upon a walk leading to a shabby, me andering old house of one story, with a very long, low porch, once painted white, running the full leuph of the front. Ariel sprang upon the porcn and disappeared within the house. Joe stood looking after ber, his eye lashes winking ns bad hers. "You oughtn't to have treated hr that way," he said huskily. l'lck up that banjo cn.v again and como on." commanded Mr Bantry tart ly. "Where's the ruuterr Joe stared at hlin. "Vhei what?" "Hie mater!" was the f owning re ply. "Oli. yes, 1 know!" said J, looking at bis stepbrother curiously. "I've seen It "in stories. She's upstairs. You'U ts a surprise. You're wearing lots of clothes, Gctie." "I suppose it will seem so to Canaan," returned the other weariedly. "Govern or feeling fit?" "I never saw him." Joe replied, tben cuiight himself. "Oh, 1 see what you mean! Yes. he's nil right" They had come Into the halh and En gene was removing the long coat, while bis stepbrother looked at him thought fully. "dene," asked the latter In a sof tened voice, "have yon reen Maml Tike yetr "You will find, my young friend," re sponded Mr. Bantry, "If you ever go about much outside of Canaan, that la dles" names arc not supposed to be mentioned indiscriminately." "It's only," said Joe, "that I wanted to say that there's a dance at their house tonight. I suppose you'll be go-lug?" "Certainly. Are you?" Both knew that the question was needless, but Joe nuswered gently: 'Oh. no, of course not' lie leaned ever and fumbled v.'itu one foot as If to fasten a loose shoestring. "She wouldn't lie very likely to ask me." "Weil, what about it?" "Only that-tli.it Arte Tabor's going." indeed"' Eugene paused on the stairs, which he had begun to ascend. "Very Interesting." "I thought," continued Joe hopefully, etralghtonhig up to look at him, "that maybe you'd d.tnee with her. I don't believe many will a5'.; her I'm afraid they won't and If ymi would, even only once, it would kind of make up for" he f altered -'To oat there," he finished, maiding his he;id in the direc tion of the gate. If Eugene vouchsafed auy reply it was lost hi a loud, shrili cry from above, as a small. Intensely nervoab looking woman in blue silk rau hnr- way down the stairs to meet him ano caught him tearfully In her arms. "Dear old mntcr!" said Eugene. Joe went out - of the frout doci aulcklv. (Continued Next Sunday.) We have 999 Boxes of PAPER at 25c, 35c, 40c, and 50c per box, and hardly two boxes of a kind, which we are closing out at from 7 to 9 Cents per box, none higher, simply because there are so many kinds it is hard to care for them properly. See the show window. Price card on every box. Larger" display on counters inside E. A. HIGGINS CO., B1U8IC HOOKS HTATIONEKY- FISHERMEN, ATTENTION! SEE OUR WINDOW! EVERYTHING YOU NEED1 PAINT, COTTON ROPE, SAIL CLOTH, NETTING TWINE, NETTING NEEDLES, OARS 01 FLOATS The Foard & Stokes Hardware Go. Inc. Succeaaort t Foard It Stokat C ASTORIA IRON WORKS JOHN FOX, Pre. F L BISHOP. Secretary (Nelson Troyn, Vice-Prea. and Sopt. ASTORIA SAVINGS BANBUTrea Designers and Manufacturers oi : THE LATEriT IMPROVED Canning Machinery, Marine Engines and Boilers, Complete Cannery Outfits Furnished. RRSPO MlfCE SOtiCITED, foot of JFourtn atreet Mil IIIIMHIMIMHIIIIIHIM BIG REDUCTIONS Wall Paper 30 PER CENT OFF X On account of ithe large new spring stock coming and X to make room in our store we oner ou per cci off for the next few days. Buy your wall paper now while it is cheap. Eastern Painting & Decorating Company. Commercial 8treet, near Eighth. I 1 1 II II H 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 3. Q. A. BOWLBY, President. 0. L PETERSON, vioe-Prwident BANK PATTON, Oeahier. J. W. GARNER, Atsutant Caahier. Astoria Savings Bank CapiUki ?ld In 1100,000. Surplus and Undivided Profits 55,0(B ; Transact a General Banking Business. Interest Paid on Time Deposit A3TOKIA, OREGON First National Bank of Astoria, Ore. There's naught Bo sweet at love'a young dream. And It would sweeter be, If lover'a would only take A Uttle Rocky Mountain Tea, Frank Hart ESTABLISHED 1880. Capital $100,000 DISTILLERS LOUSIVILLE, KENTUCKY Old Forester Whistay High in Quality and Price Tucker Whiskey Best Value on the Coast Major Paul Whiskey Noted for its Fine Flavor lino DISTIlinUTOHS n ASTORIA, OREGON I To Be Happy ! and Gay Meana not only good things to eat, but also the beat of things to drink, 1 and the best of all good drinks ia Sund & Carlson's X Rye and Bourbon Whiskies, Choice Wines and Champagnes. ; I THE COMMERCIAL jj o 609 Commeroial 8t ?mpsmmm$Wl THE GEM C. F. WISE, Prop. ..Choice Wlnea, Iiquori , , . Merchants Lnnch From ,j5 f .and Ogaras, . ". 11:30 a. m. to 1:30 p jn. Hot Lnnch at all Honrs ; 3 Centa . Comer Eleventh and Commercial AJT0BXA 0SSG0I t